The Manufacturers Resource Center (MRC) will hold its eighth “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing” program for schools in Schuylkill and Berks counties.

Local participating schools include Tamaqua, Blue Mountain, DHH Lengel, Mahanoy Area, Minersville, Shenandoah Valley and North Schuylkill.

The contest promotes Career and Technical Education (CTE) and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education in middle schools, and exposes students to manufacturing career paths.

Students participate in the “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing” video contest, and visit local manufacturers to develop, shoot, edit and produce a “cool” video to document their experiences.

“MRC is proud to bring What’s So Cool About Manufacturing to the Berks and Schuylkill counties for its eighth year,” said Rich Hobbs, president of MRC. “The program’s continued success and impact can be attributed to the efforts the teachers and students have put forth, along with the many partners and community sponsors committed to building a future workforce which will in turn support economic growth and expansion in the region.”

Student teams will partner with manufacturers in 11 regions across Pennsylvania. Videos will compete in regional and state contests.

All videos will be posted on the “What’s So Cool” website WhatsSoCool.org, and will be open to the public for voting March 8-10 for the Viewers Choice Award.